caresdementiaspecialist.com

What It Is

HealthCare Interactive (HCI) is a professional online education provider founded in 1997, focusing on care training for Alzheimer’s disease and other progressive dementias. Its core CARES course series is designed to improve caregivers’ professional skills and help organizations meet state-level dementia training compliance requirements.

Core Dimensions

• Course areas: Deep specialization in dementia care, covering 10 major modules including fundamentals, advanced care, activities of daily living (ADLs), end-of-life care, abuse prevention, and serious mental illness.
• Delivery format: Fully online, pre-recorded courses built around extensive video content—real cases with non-actor participants—interactive activities, and case studies. Courses can be accessed anytime on desktop and mobile devices.
• Certification / credentials: Offers a two-tier certification system. Learners can earn the CARES® Dementia Certification™ after completing an individual course; those who complete the full 40-hour curriculum and pass the exam can earn the industry-recognized CARES® Dementia Specialist™ (C.D.S.) credential.
• Faculty / institutional background: Founded by John V. Hobday, an expert in instructional design and dementia research. HCI has collaborated with leading organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Duke University, and NYU School of Medicine. Its courses are recognized by federal and industry authorities including CMS/Medicare and AHCA/NCAL.

Pricing

Pricing varies by audience. For individuals, the full 40-hour C.D.S. credential program costs $799. For organizations, HCI offers two models: Per-User, starting at $999, and Per-Site, starting at $1999. If an organization purchases the Complete Catalog, employees only need to pay a $150 exam fee to earn the C.D.S. Individual course pricing is not detailed in the source material.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Extremely comprehensive curriculum, evidence-based and highly credible; real-world video cases improve practical relevance; the C.D.S. credential has strong recognition within the industry.
Cons: The $799 price point may be a high barrier for individual learners; courses are currently offered only in English, with no multilingual support.

Who It’s For

Best suited for healthcare and care organizations that need to meet state compliance requirements, caregivers seeking career advancement and professional credentials, and family members who want structured training in home-based care skills.

Access from China

The website is hosted in the United States, and network accessibility for users in China is unknown. Payment methods are not clearly stated and may require an international credit card. There does not appear to be a direct domestic alternative in China, though Chinese-language educational resources from the Alzheimer’s Association may be useful for reference.